The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-01-15

In detail. You will have the reports before you
and IL Is recommended that you adopt and en-
act into law such suggestions contained In thom
rs may be calculated to In legitimate way
nmclioratc aud advance the condition OF the
lnboring classes of the State.
IL Is with great qualification that you are re
minded that while they have had riots ant
bloodshed In other States, we have been spared
oil serious labor trouble.
This is duo to the good sense and tho patri
otic desire OF our people to serve and uphold the
law and mutually respect the rights OF others.
Such acceptable and prascworthy conduct
under such circumstances rs have obtained, re
quires ut your hands patient hearing and con
sderate treatment OF every complaint that may
be made, to the end that our legislation on this
important subject may keep abreast with the
progress Of civilization and the wants Of en-
lightened society
factory condition. II has been found necessary
to make but few changes OF management during
the year Tho several reports OF the trustees
and various officials Of these institutions arc
submitted herewith. They arc so complete as
To make II unnecessary to do moro than refer
YOU to them for any Information that may be
desired
Your attention is called particularly, however
to the report OF the Board OF State Charities,
including report made to that board by Hon.
John w. Andrews and Hoh. Il. Brinkerhofr. net
ing as committee appointed by that board to
investigate and report rs to "how to relieve the
institutions from the pressure Of party politics.
These gentlemen have been long identified with
charitable aud benevolent work. They have
had much experience and great opportunity for
observation. They arc probably as well quail
fled to speak on this subject as any gentlemen
who can be found IN our State.
Their discussion is therefore entitled to the
most respectful consideration. You will find
that they have clearly set forth their views and
supported them with cogent arguments.
What they say as to the propriety OF keeping
the management Of the benevolent institutions
out of politics ia fully endorsed.
They have no relation whatever to any OF the
principles questions or policies that constitute
political differences Party divisions are never
made with reference to thom. Their admins.
tration is expected to be of tho same general
capable OF being put out OF politics. as, on &C.
count OF their character. they should be.
s @
there Is no halfway ground. They must and
ever will be either In or out 1t is for you to say
which 1t shall be: During late years there has
been compromising policy pursued. The pruc-
tice has been to have boards Of an odd number
OF members-gcnerally flve-and to have u mi
nority representation of the party not in power
of two members. These are called mixed
boards, and there are many who seem to think
good results have been secured in this way.
This is largely mistake. The good results
have been due more to the high character OF the
men who have held these positions of trust.
SO far as the mixed" feature Of the politics
of the board is concerned 1t is almost II not
quite. an unmixed evil. 1t is good politics but
bad public service. In almost every instance
OF misinanasemcnt or mishap OF any kind in the
conduct OF any of the public institutions when
ity trustees have excused and defended them
selves on the ground that they and their party
were not in power and therefore not rcspon
sible; and the majority trustees have taken
refuge behind the minority and put forth the
defense that the other party was equally ut
fault because their representatives had partici
patcd in the wrong. Such were the answers
given when the recent unfortunate management
of the penitentiary was called to account. So
Impressive IN experience should not be soon
forgotten.
A careful study of this matter has resulted in
these conclusions:
l. The benevolent institutions ought to be in
dependent of political changes in State govern
ment
. They have no relation to politica! issues or
differences, and may, therefore, with propriety
be made so.
3. Minority representation in mixed boards do
not accomplish this purpose. The majority will
their power and always exercise it for
the benefit of their party. and whom bad results
are obtained they will hide behind the minority,
who will plead want of responsibility.
4. The best system is non-partisan control in
which neither party, will havo majority, but
both will have equal representation and equal
8. This control should not be by independent
boards, but by ono board of four or six men,
bers to govern all the institutions of the State
u. Tho Governor should appoint all the super
iDtcndcnts of these institutions, subject to
approval by this board: and the superintendent
Df.eatl institution should, subject to the same
approval, appoint all the subordinate officers
The appointing power should also have the
power OF removal, subject to the approval Of
the Board.
z. The Governor should be ex-oficio a men,
ber, with power to give deciding vote in all
cases OF equal division.
This plan would fix responsibility. 1t would
secure an equal representation Of both parties.
No Governor or superintendent could, II he de-
sired, unduly favor his own party in the ap-
pointmcnts to be made, since all must be con-
firmcd by q majority vote, and hence neceS-
sarily by the vote Of his political opponents as
well as by the votes Of his friends 1t would Sc
cure more aid from the trustees than is now af-
forded to the superintcndents in the manage
mcnt.
Under the present system we have able, well
qualified and highly honorable men in the vari-
Gus boards. But their duties rarely call them
to their respective institutions Oftener than
. month. Their visits are generally hurried.
They have but little time to study the wants Of
tho institution while there. Their time, when
away, is devoted to their own affairs. The con-
sequence is that they necessarily leave the
very largely to the superinten-
men OF high character and fitness for the posi-
tions they hold, and consequently, as matters
now stand, no harm is likely to result from this
practice.
But it would be safer and better, II you make
u change, to guard against any danger on this
account. The plan recommended would do this.
The concentration of the management of all
the institutions under one board would neces
state the constant attention of the members
to their duties. The discharge of these duties
pation. They Would be constantly in com
munication with, and in attendance upon,
these institution They would shortly become
entirely familiar with all their details, and by
constant study and attention become wise
counsellors and efficient assistants to the local
officials.
The objection may be made that the members
of such q board would have to be paid SALARY.
That does not necessarily follow. But II that be
requisite, the objection is not q serious one.
Reasonable salaries would be scarcely more
expensive, II at oil, than the present system
under which the State pays the expenses OF all
the many members Of the many boards. But
without regard TO how that may be, the State
can well afford to pay whatever may be neces-
sary to secure the most efficient services that
can be commanded. We have spent many mill
ions Of dollars to erect our institutions and ex-
pend annually nearly 81 00O, 900 to maintain them
Such important interests should be msnaged and
cared for by the most capable talent, and nc-
cording to the most approved business methods
conclude to adopt the non-partisan system Of
governing our benevolent institutions, you place
the government of all under one common board,
such as has been indicated.
You might with propriety confer these powers
upon the Board OF State Charities, The MEM
bers OF this Board represent both parties equally,
and are mon Of high character, already familiar
with the work 20 which they would thus be
called.
II you see fit to make change from the present
system. and do not adopt the recommendation
made, then there should be non-partisan board
of either four or six members for each institu-
tion, with the superintendent empowered to vote
in all cases OF equal division, since 1t would be
impossible for the Governor to discharge such q
duty in connection with 40 many boards.
1t will be noticed that what has been said re-
lates only to the benevolent institutions. The
recommendations OF the Board OF State Chari-
ties include the penal institutions also. The
principle OF non.partisan management for the
benevolent institutions is approved for the
reason, among others, that not being identified
with political issues or questions, II Is both prac
ticable and proper.
In SO far us the same reason obtains, q like ap-
proval might be given for the penal institutions.
But the reason falls when we come to the ques-
tion OF tho management OF the Ohio penitentiary.
This institution is directly and Importantly
involved In politics. The parties have distinct